“No, they are safer here, where no one is admitted without my orders. But if evil should befall me——”
“Then bring or send them in to Alibad, or send a message to me for help,” said Major Keeling. “I owe you a good turn for to-day.”
CHAPTER XII.
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
“Come! all’s well that ends well,” said Major Keeling to Sir Dugald, as they rode into the town after escorting Mr Crayne back to the fort. “I don’t remember ever feeling so happy before.”
“I don’t wonder,” was the laconic reply.
“But I do. After all, Ferrers’ charge was a preposterous one. Why should I feel so extraordinarily glad to have cleared myself? The relief seems out of all proportion to the trouble.”
“I hope you are not fey, Major, as we say in Scotland?”
“If you are asking whether I have a presentiment of approaching misfortune, I never was freer from it in my life.”
“No, it’s just the other way. You feel particularly happy, and you can’t see any reason for it. Then you know that misfortune is on its way.”
“Oh, that’s what it is to be fey? Haigh, I’ll tell you what would have been a misfortune—if your wife and Miss Ross had turned against me.”